Aston Martin Owners Club
Discussion
Some of you will know, that there has recently been 'trouble at mill', within the club.
I don't know the full story, but it seems so complicated, even including an action at the High Court, that maybe nobody knows the full story.
We may have to wait for the book and the film, before really understanding what is going on.
The management of the club is controlled by something called a Committee of Management, which supposedly involves 22 people.
Even HSBC, one of the largest companies in the UK, with revenue of $63 billion and 226,000 employees around the world, only has 1 Chairman and 12 Directors. Was it the Austin Allegro which was designed by a committee, and that went on sale with a square steering wheel?
New AMOC Articles of Association have been proposed, which require a members' vote to be approved. For this purpose, an Extraordinary General Meeting was arranged, to be held at 11:00am tomorrow.
I have just received an email stating, at the last moment, that the EGM has been adjourned.
The reason given is Coronavirus.
Someone in my household has just suggested, that this last minute adjournment might be, because the Proxy postal votes went the wrong way.
Go and wash your mouth out.
EDIT - I have just noticed - 9,000th post.
I will start off the comments;
When are you going to write something interesting?
Edited by Jon39 on Saturday 11th December 16:01
You are very kind EVR. Thank you.
Afternoon tea time here. Earl Grey tea with cucumber sandwiches. Maybe like Italy, but with rain.
Yes, I often try to include humour in my ramblings, but frequently I don't think anyone notices my jokes.
In the UK we need to keep laughing. There now seem to be people here who hate the country, complain about everything, distain aspiration and consider whatever happens must be someone else's fault. Perhaps the simple life was best, when men in brown coats went to work in Newport Pagnell and used hammers to make automotive art.
The email does go on to say that the Articles of Association of the club require meetings of this nature to be in person, i.e. a physical meeting. I think it is only common sense that such a meeting is cancelled because of the current situation with the Omicron variant.
For the same reason, our company has cancelled the Christmas party (so I'm going up to No.10 to see if I can get in there....).
For the same reason, our company has cancelled the Christmas party (so I'm going up to No.10 to see if I can get in there....).
bullet7 said:
The email does go on to say that the Articles of Association of the club require meetings of this nature to be in person, ...
Yes agree, but in that case how did huge companies manage to hold their AGMs during lockdown?
They just had 2 or 3 directors at the physical meeting (a quarum), all other shareholders being invited to vote and submit questions by post, or online.
Perhaps there are reasons why AMOC needs to bring their management and articles of association into the modern age.
Expect there were fees payable to cancel the meeting venue at short notice, which of course means the members pay.
I belong to two car clubs. They have annual subscriptions of £25 and £135. One guess which is AMOC.
I received the letter and proxy form, but it was sending me to sleep 1/3 of the way through and I couldn’t understand the real issues other than there appears to be too many chiefs and some very unhappy people. I threw the form away. Waste of paper and postage costs to the club when all this could have been done online. I hope they sort themselves out but being a member of a club and seeing in-house fighting,
I’ll leave them to it.
There are far more important things to worry about and plenty of other clubs to join!
I’ll leave them to it.
There are far more important things to worry about and plenty of other clubs to join!
Hi Jon.
Two points from your post jump out at me.
1. English civil law is open justice, easy to find docs online:
https://www.casemine.com/judgement/uk/60e2a2182c94...
2. Allegro’s were safest car on the road in their day. If you go round a corner and the wheel falls off….
Two points from your post jump out at me.
1. English civil law is open justice, easy to find docs online:
https://www.casemine.com/judgement/uk/60e2a2182c94...
2. Allegro’s were safest car on the road in their day. If you go round a corner and the wheel falls off….
Ok, I’ve read it (rather than watching strictly!).
My take which may be incorrect:
Claimant sent out prepopulated ballot papers allegedly to influence members to vote in a certain way, for Chairman. Committee decide that he was wrong to do so.
New blank ballot papers were sent out.
Results came in and were counted but not disclosed.
Actions of Claimant resulted in his nomination of chairman being removed so existing chairman continued as Chairman on the basis of the votes being valid (as members had chosen to vote using either ballot voting slip) with the other nominee’s votes no longer being meaningful.
(We don’t get to see the count which would have been interesting).
Claimant makes the mistake of going to court without a valid point of law and loses.
As Claimant had publicised his negative opinions of the defendant without evidence and publicly claimed she would incur costly legal fees, judge decided this was done with venom and ruled all costs should be paid by claimant £44k - ouch!
7376 members x £135 = £1m business.
I seem to recall there was a backdrop to this a couple of years ago regarding their elections with lots of mud throwing.
Disappointing behaviour all round and such a shame for the members.
My take which may be incorrect:
Claimant sent out prepopulated ballot papers allegedly to influence members to vote in a certain way, for Chairman. Committee decide that he was wrong to do so.
New blank ballot papers were sent out.
Results came in and were counted but not disclosed.
Actions of Claimant resulted in his nomination of chairman being removed so existing chairman continued as Chairman on the basis of the votes being valid (as members had chosen to vote using either ballot voting slip) with the other nominee’s votes no longer being meaningful.
(We don’t get to see the count which would have been interesting).
Claimant makes the mistake of going to court without a valid point of law and loses.
As Claimant had publicised his negative opinions of the defendant without evidence and publicly claimed she would incur costly legal fees, judge decided this was done with venom and ruled all costs should be paid by claimant £44k - ouch!
7376 members x £135 = £1m business.
I seem to recall there was a backdrop to this a couple of years ago regarding their elections with lots of mud throwing.
Disappointing behaviour all round and such a shame for the members.
Edited by Djit on Saturday 11th December 22:01
Must admit I am surprised someone hasn’t started amec or something similar as when you read about this stuff it would appear on the surface that AMOC leadership and management is a shambles and would make a good case for any mba on how not to operate a car club imho.
In my experience the regions are run very well - it’s just the bloated top table as stated above - very embarrassing!
In my experience the regions are run very well - it’s just the bloated top table as stated above - very embarrassing!
Edited by oilit on Sunday 12th December 08:01
I've never been a member of AMOC but have been to a couple of events. Most of what I hear about it means that will almost certainly remain the case going forward. Why these people think they are more important than the club/membership bewilders me.
My recommendation would be to join a car club of people who love cars more than themselves. I'm in SCD (Supercar driver) and it's great. Real people, not a cravat in site, proper driving events as well as static events and no power grabbing bulls
t politics. And you get to see, hear, drive with all makes of sports/supercars. Why limit yourself to one marque when there are loads of wonderful ones out there?
My recommendation would be to join a car club of people who love cars more than themselves. I'm in SCD (Supercar driver) and it's great. Real people, not a cravat in site, proper driving events as well as static events and no power grabbing bulls
t politics. And you get to see, hear, drive with all makes of sports/supercars. Why limit yourself to one marque when there are loads of wonderful ones out there?Djit said:
Ok, I’ve read it (rather than watching strictly!).
My take which may be incorrect ....
My take which may be incorrect ....
Thank you Djit for the information.
Hope you can watch a 'catchup' of Strictly. I might have grown too old, but I stopped watching that show, when I no longer knew who the 'celebrities' are. Great that Anton is still involved, what a character.
I might have failed to read a communication properly, but I don't think AMOC have ever explained any of those details to the membership.
I must not name the publicly known claimant (he might take me to the High Court), but is he;
1. Still permitted to be a member of AMOC?
2. Silll a member of the Committee of Management?
The answers might possibly be an indication of management backbone strength.
oilit said:
my only concern is the inverted snob in me struggles with the ‘super’ in scd lol !!
It's just a name. As you can see from my pictures, supercars, sports cars and GT cars are all welcome. Having said that, I'm not sure I've ever seen a DB9 at an event. However, the DBR9 was much admired at Donington this year (check out those manifolds!). Fun fact, the alternator of the DBR9 is at the back, running off the gearbox/diff (no photo unfortunately).
Jon39 said:
Yes agree, but in that case how did huge companies manage to hold their AGMs during lockdown?
They just had 2 or 3 directors at the physical meeting (a quarum), all other shareholders being invited to vote and submit questions by post, or online.
Perhaps there are reasons why AMOC needs to bring their management and articles of association into the modern age.
You just need to use a service like Lumi, the rest can be done with something as simple as zoom.
They have no excuse
I have been a member of the Club for 14 years now - but have to say I am totally confused about that is going on at the moment - and I was an Area Rep for 7 years.
On a local basis I have made some lifelong friends from being a member, attended some great events which have enhanced our ownership of the car. We have had some great trips abroad, throughout England and showed our cars in some great places. It has been real fun - but the SW is by far modern Aston centric.
As for the politics, they are in their own bubble thinking they are very important and you do have to question whether it is for the benefit of the members - or themselves. It does truly need reform and would benefit from a complete new COM running the Club. Will it happen? I doubt it.
I have just cancelled my DD and will see what progress is made over the next few months to see whether I stay a member or not. There are a lot of alternatives available.
On a local basis I have made some lifelong friends from being a member, attended some great events which have enhanced our ownership of the car. We have had some great trips abroad, throughout England and showed our cars in some great places. It has been real fun - but the SW is by far modern Aston centric.
As for the politics, they are in their own bubble thinking they are very important and you do have to question whether it is for the benefit of the members - or themselves. It does truly need reform and would benefit from a complete new COM running the Club. Will it happen? I doubt it.
I have just cancelled my DD and will see what progress is made over the next few months to see whether I stay a member or not. There are a lot of alternatives available.
TheRainMaker said:
Jon39 said:
Yes agree, but in that case how did huge companies manage to hold their AGMs during lockdown?
They just had 2 or 3 directors at the physical meeting (a quarum), all other shareholders being invited to vote and submit questions by post, or online.
Perhaps there are reasons why AMOC needs to bring their management and articles of association into the modern age.
You just need to use a service like Lumi, the rest can be done with something as simple as zoom.
They have no excuse
Yes, I have used Lumi several times.
I get the impression with AMOC, that their (quite old) Articles of Association, prohibit them having anything other than physical meetings. Even voting has to be done in person, or through a proxy who is physically present at a meeting.
The present initial move I understand, is to simplify and at the same time bring the old Articles of Association into the modern era.
There seems to be considerable resistance to even that though. I have been sent emails and there is also a multi-signed letter, which shows the support by many of the Area Reps, encouraging members to oppose any changes.
Membership renewals are due at the end of the year.
My £135 won't be going to them, while these antics continue.
I used to be a member of AMOC - probably 10 years ago, and I was thinking of rejoining as the local region meet up is less than 5 miles from my house.
Depends what they do now as previously the chap who ran it was very much into his old Astons, and said to me the first time I went to region meet - “what model is this? All these new ones look the same to me!”
As for membership fees - Porsche Club are looking at pushing their fees up; Ferrari OC is now £125 (I think!) and as for SCD…….!!
I must spend £5-600 a year on club memberships!!
Graham.
Depends what they do now as previously the chap who ran it was very much into his old Astons, and said to me the first time I went to region meet - “what model is this? All these new ones look the same to me!”
As for membership fees - Porsche Club are looking at pushing their fees up; Ferrari OC is now £125 (I think!) and as for SCD…….!!
I must spend £5-600 a year on club memberships!!
Graham.
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